The advent of digital workplaces caused a relaxation of texting communication within a majority of companies and businesses. We’ll explain —

If you had ever said four or five years ago that it is ok to text your boss for any reason, then most people would think that you were crazy. Fast forward to 2016 and you have a totally different picture.

Millennials, “digital natives,” or whatever moniker you decide to label this generation of young people, were raised alongside text-based forms of communication over the last two decades. One of the earliest examples in the form of AOL’s instant messenger and overtime saw increased efficiencies in text communication with the rise of social media and smartphone SMS. When this group became a workforce majority, their forms of communication seeped into workplace culture.

#2. Texting is easy, and gets the message across quickly — When 79% of businesses believe customers want SMS support, texting clearly has won over the general population. This is because texting is such a simple tool. The context of the message is easily understood, and it isn’t misinterpreted. Body language and visual cues can’t alter the responses of each party involved in the conversation. Texting can now be done from any internet connected device, and is a flexible, real-time way to communicate.

#3. The already large majority of Americans that text keep growing — Over 90% of all recorded demographics (Pew Research) used text messaging on their phones. While texting is seen mostly as a “millennial” trait, 92% the 50+ plus group used texting at least once a week. 100% of 18-29-year-olds use text messaging apps. In even younger groups (teenagers), text messaging replaces voice communication almost entirely.

The numbers paint a very clear picture: just about everybody in America texts. It is the most frequent smartphone activity and ranks ahead of other smartphone use-cases such as social networking, watching music/video based media, and gaming (just to list a few.) In previous years, people assumed that texting was a universal communication platform for just young people, but now it’s evident that it’s a universal platform for all types of people.

Texting has evolved from sending silly images and jargon, to a productive tool that is used daily. So the next time you feel under the weather, or something comes up, just hit the “send” button. Your boss should reply back: “Feel Better soon.”